Drapery carriers



Dec. 26, 1967 M. A. SALTZ 3,359,592

DRAPERY CARRIERS Filed June 24, 1965 e4 28/}g-3I arla 22 LIO 52 I6 JM/EA/ roe.

Maze/5 44. 5.0L 72 United States Patent 3,359,592 DRAPERY CARRIERS Morris A. Saltz, 1083 S. Ogden Drive, Los Angeles, Calif. 90019 Filed June 24, 1965, Ser. No. 466,632 4 Claims. (Cl. 16--93) The present invention relates to drapery carriers or hangers, and more particularly to carriers capable of slidable movement along a companion traverse rod or track.

To facilitate the mounting of drapery carriers in a traverse rod or track, it has been proposed to initially interconnect them by readily severable connections. Prior interconnected carriers embody serious limitations on their number capable of being secured together and the space required for their storage. They have been manufactured in strip form by molding, the cost of the mold required being relatively high. In addition, once a carrier has been separated from its neighbor, it cannot be reconnected thereto.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide interconnected separable drapery carriers that can be secured together in very large and, in fact, indefinite numbers independently of the number capable of being molded at any one time.

Another object of the invention is to provide interconnected separable drapery carriers that enable a large number to be stored in a relatively small space while remaining in interconnected relation. In a more limited sense, the interconnected carriers can be spirally mounted on one another and in very large numbers, the required number of interconnected carriers for mounting in a traverse rod being easily uncoiled and separated from the remainder of the carrier coil.

A further object of the invention is to provide drapery carriers capable of being easily connected to one another, disconnected from one another, and reconnected to each other, if desired.

Draperies are supported on a traverse rod by a plurality of carrier slides or hangers inserted into the rod from an end portion thereof, such hangers being secured to the drapery at desired spaced intervals, as through the agency of pin hooks inserted in the drapery and received in the carriers. At times, an insufficient or an excess number of carriers have been assembled in the rod. An additional carrier may be required at a particular location along the drape, or a carrier is mounted on the rod at an unrequired point. The supplying of the additional carrier or carriers at a particular location, or removal of the carrier or carriers, has heretofore required at least partial disassembly of the drapery and carriers with respect to the traverse rod, to allow the addition of the carrier or carriers at the required points, or the removal of unneeded carriers, followed by reassembly of the drapery and carriers in proper suspended relation to the traverse rod. These operations are time consuming and costly.

Accordingly, it is an additional object of the invention to provide a drapery carrier or hanger which is capable of being readily mounted in and removed from its slot or traverse rod without disturbing other carriers assembled in the rod.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a drapery carrier or hanger for use with a traverse rod having a longitudinal access slot, which is readily insertable directly through the slot into the rod, and easily and purposely extractable from the rod through its slot, but which will still resist its inadvertent extraction during normal use in supporting the drapery from the traverse rod.

Still a further object of the invention is to provide a drapery carrier or hanger which is sufficiently deflectable as to be easily insertable and extractable as a result of 3,359,592 Patented Dec. 26, 1967 "ice transverse movement through the slot of a traverse rod, but which will not deflect or deform sufficiently during normal use in slidably supporting the drapery from the rod, thereby insuring retention of the carrier in the rod.

This invention possesses many other advantages, and has other objects which may be made more clearly apparent from a consideration of a form in which it may be embodied. This form is shown in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification. It will now be described in detail, for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention; but it is to be understood that such detailed description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of an interconnected group of drapery carriers or hangers embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view taken along the line 2-2 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken along the line 3-3 on FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the spiralling or coiling of a group of interconnected carriers illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of a single carrier or hanger mounted in a traverse rod;

FIG. 6 is a vertical section taken along the line 66 on FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 illustrating the transverse insertion of a carrier or hanger through the acccess slot of the traverse rod;

FIG. 8 is a view taken along the line 88 on FIG. 6.

A group of interconnected drapery carriers or hangers A is disclosed in the drawings, which are adapted to support drapery (not shown) from a traverse rod or track B through use of drapery pin hooks (not shown), or the like, in a known manner. The traverse rod illustrated is of generally channel shape, having a forward vertical web portion 10 merging into upper and lower opposed generally U-shaped portions 11, 12, which, in turn, merge into upper and lower vertical flanges 13, 14 directed toward each other, the edges 15, 16 of the flanges being spaced apart a desired vertical distance to provide a longitudinally extending access slot 17 through the rear portion of the traverse rod opening into its interior or channel 18.

The carriers A can slide along the traverse rod and will normally rest upon the edge 16 of the lower flange 14. The carriers specifically illustrated are adapted for endwise insertion into the interior 18 of the rod, and for transverse insertion through the access slot 17 into the carrier. They can also be removed transversely of the traverse rod through this access slot. When disposed in the access slot and within the channel or interior 18 of the rod, the carriers cannot inadvertently be removed therefrom.

As disclosed generally in FIGS. 1 to 3, the carriers A are initially interconnected to one another to permit their ready insertion through an end of the traverse rod as a group, whereupon the carriers can be easily separated from one another for appropriate connection to the various portions of the drapery through the agency of the drapery pin hooks, or the like.

As shown in the drawings, each carrier A includes an upper body 20 comprising a central, generally cylindrical shank 21 that may be flat across its upper end 22 and having a diameter which is substantially less than the vertical distance between the upper and lower flanges 13, 14 defining the longitudinal access slot 17. The rear end of this shank merges into and is integral with an outer body portion 23 that extends laterally outwardly substantially beyond the periphery of the shank completely around its circumference. This outer body portion is integral with a depending vertical leg portion 24 terminating in a foot portion 25 which may be inclined in a downward direction from the plane of the leg portion so as to substantially underlie the shank 21. This foot portion has a hole or opening 26 through which a drapery pin hook (not shown). is insertable.

The outer body portion 23 includes a vertical central web 27 integral with the shank 21. The web is integral with a horizontal reinforcing flange 28 extending outwardly thereof around its marginal portion. This horizontal flange is integral with the upper portion of the carrier leg 24, the outer surface 29 of which may be substantially flush with the outer end of the reinforcing flange. Generally vertical reinforcing flanges 30 may also extend between and are integral with the lower portion of the marginal flange 28 and the inner surface of the leg. The horizontal flange 28 integral with the web 27 lies on a cylindrical surface having the axis of the shank as a center, except for the upper portion 31 of the flange which may be flat, extending outwardly from a corresponding flat portion of the central web 27 of the outer body portion.

The-upper body 20 also includes an inner body portion 32, which may be of generally cup shape, and which includes a base or web portion 33 integral with the inner end ofthe shank 21 and a flange or skirt 34 extending axially outwardly from the base portion. The flange or skirt portion 34, in effect, reinforces the inner body portion 32. The axis 35 of the inner body portion 32 is parallel to but eccentric of the axis 36 of the shank 21, the axis 35 of the inner body portion lying on the opposite side of the shank axis with respect to the vertical leg portion 24 of the carrier. The diameter of the inner body portion 32 is substantially greater than the diameter of the shank 21, being muchgreater than the width across the access slot 17 of the traverse rod.

The proportions of the carrier shank 21 and the inner body portion 32 are so related with respect to the width of the access slot 17 as to permit the carrier to be assembled transversely through the slot and into the traverse rod and to be removed therefrom, while the carrier is still capable of functioning effectively in slidably supporting the drape from the traverse rod when mounted therein. As specifically disclosed, the inner body portion 32 extends below the shank 21 to a substantial extent, forming a lower vertical groove 37 with the outer body portion 23 below the shank. The upper part of the inner body portion 32 forms an upper groove 38 with the upper part of the outer body portion into which the upper vertical flange 13 of the traverse rod will extend when the shank 21 is resting upon the upper edge 16 of the lower vertical flange 14 of the traverse rod. As shown most clearly in FIG. 6, when the shank 21 rests upon the upper edge 16 of the lower traverse rod, the inner body member 32 overlaps both the upper vertical flange 13 and the lower vertical flange 14 of the traverse rod, which is also true of the outer body member 23, thereby retaining the carrier in assembled relation within the traverse rod B, and enabling it to partake of only slight axial movement without disassembly from the traverse rod.

Assuming a hanger or carrier A to be elevated within the traverse rod slot 17 so that the upper end 22 of its shank engages the lower edge 15 of the upper vertical flange, the lower end 40 of the inner body portion will still overlap the upper edge 16 of the lower vertical flange 14 to a slight extent. However, since the carrier is preferably made of an elastic material, such as nylon or polyethylene, the imposition of an outward force on the leg 24 will cause the lower portion of the inner body 32 to be deflected sufliciently to pass across the upper edge 16 of the lower vertical flange and thereby permit the carrier to be removed from the traverse rod. Conversely, the carrier can be mounted in the traverse rod by disposing it in the inclined position illustrated in FIG. 7 and by inserting the upper portion of the inner body 32 through the slot 17 until the shank 21 engages the lower edge 15 of the upper vertical flange, at which time the lower end 40' of the inner body will slightly overlap the exterior of the lower vertical flange 14. A sufiicient inward force can then be exerted on the carrier which will cause the lower vertical flange 14 to deflect the lower portion of the inner body 32 outwardly and enable the inner body to snap past the lower vertical flange and fully into the space 18 within the traverse rod. The hanger can then assume the pendent position illustrated in FIG. 6, in which the shank 21 is resting upon the lower vertical flange 14.

Because of the necessity for the lower portion of the inner body 32 to deflect when the shank engages the lower edge 15 of the upper vertical flange 13, the carrier will not inadvertently be removable from its assembled position on the traverse rod B, since a greater force is required in securing deflection of the elastic inner body 32 than is normally encountered in supporting a drape slidably from the traverse rod.

For the purpose of permitting the inner body 32 to extend downwardly from the shank 21 to a greater extent and still permit transverse insertion of the hanger into and from the traverse rod, the upper portion 22 of the shank may be flat, as illustrated most clearly in FIG. 8. Such flattening will permit greater elevation of the hanger in moving the lower portion of the inner body through the access slot 17 of the traverse rod.

The carriers A can be initially detachably secured to one another, being interconnected by a connector piece, strip, or web 50 extending laterally from one carrier and secured to an adjacent carrier. As shown, each connector piece 50 is flexible and is integral with and extends from a side 60 of a carrier adjacent to the outer surface 29 of its depending leg 24 and also adjacent to the outer surface of the body 23. A pin or protuberance 51 is integral with and extends from the free end of the connector piece or strip 50 which is adapted to make an interference fit within a bore, hole or socket 52 formed in an adjacent carrier substantially in lateral alignment with the connector strip 50 and at the opposite side 61 of the carrier. Thus, each carrier has a bore or socket 52 adjacent one side 61 thereof, and has a connector strip 50 extending laterally from another side 60 thereof, such that the pin 51 extending axially from the free end of one strip can have a force fit in the socket or bore 52 of an adjacent carrier to interconnect the carriers to one another, as disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2.

When a carrier A is to be separated from its neighbor, it is only necessary to exert a lateral pull upon it to pull the pin 51 out of its companion bore or socket 52. Alternatively, a pull can be taken upon a connector strip 50 which will also pull the pin 51 from the socket 52, for the purpose of separating the carriers.

The carriers, which, as above stated, can be made of a suitable synthetic resin, such as nylon or polyethylene, can be molded individually and then connected to one another in any number merely by inserting a pin 51 of one carrier within the socket 52 of an adjacent carrier. As an example, one thousand carriers can be connected to one another and the desired number of carriers removed singly, or as a group, from the remainder of the interconnected carriers. Such number can then be slipped endwise into the traverse rod B and the individual carriers A separated from one another by exerting a pull on one of them to remove the pin 51 from its companion socket 52 of an adjacent carrier.

If desired, a string of interconnected carriers can be stored in a relatively small space by coiling or spirally winding them in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4. The connector strip webs 50 are thin and flexible, and since they extend from each carrier at its outer surface 29, they enable the carriers to be curved upon one another beginning at the center of the spiral and with a relatively small radius, the interconnected carriers being wound upon one another in much the same fashion as a strip is coiled upon itself. The required number of carriers A can be unwound from the spiral assemblage at any desired time, and the required number so unwound separated from the remainder of the spiral assembly.

Assuming that one or more carriers have been separated from adjacent carriers, they can, if desired, be recconnected merely by pressing the pin 51 into an adjacent socket or bore 52 of the next carrier. Thus, carriers need not be left to lie around in a loose fashion, where they are susceptible to loss or damage.

I claim:

1. In a device adapted to support drapery and the like from a traverse rod having a longitudinal access slot opening into a longitudinal channel of the rod which is substantially wider than the slot: a plurality of carriers, each carrier including an upper body having a shank of less width than the width of the slot and adapted to extend thereinto, said body having an outer portion secured to said shank and extending laterally of and in opposite direction beyond the shank to overlie the exterior of the rod on opposite sides of its slot, said body further having an inner portion secured to said shank in spaced relation to said outer portion and extending laterally of and in opposite directions beyond the shank to overlie the in terior of the rod on opposite sides of its slot each carrier further including a leg depending from said outer portion of said upper body; flexible webs extending between the outer portions of adjacent carriers laterally of the sides thereof; each of said webs being secured at one end to the outer portion of a leg of a carrier below said outer body portion and inner body portion and having a pin at its opposite end extending in an axial direction inwardly of said outer portion of said leg and disposed in a bore in the outer portion of the leg of an adjacent carrier opening through the outer portion of said leg to releasably retain said carriers in series with respect to each other said bore being located below said outer and inner body portions.

2. In a device adapted to support drapery and the like from a traverse rod having a longitudinal access slot opening into a longitudinal channel of the rod which is substantially wider than the slot: a plurality of carriers, each carrier including an upper body having a shank of less width than the width of the slot and adapted to extend thereinto, said body having an outer portion secured to said shank and extending laterally of and in opposite direction beyond the shank to overlie the exterior of the rod on opposite sides of its slot, said body further having an inner portion secured to said shank in spaced relation to said outer portion and extending laterally of and in opposite directions beyond the shank to overlie the interior of the rod on opposite sides of its slot each carrier further including a leg depending from said outer portion of said upper body; flexible webs extending between the outer portions of adjacent carriers laterally of the sides thereof; each of said webs being secured at one end to the outer portion of a leg of a carrier below said outer body portion and said inner body portion and at the outer surface of said leg and having a pin at its opposite end extending in an axial direction inwardly of said outer surface and disposed in a bore in the outer portion of the leg of an adjacent carrier opening through the outer surface of said leg to releasably retain said carriers in series with respect to each other, said bore being located below said outer and inner body portions 3. In a device adapted to support drapery and the like from a traverse rod having a longitudinal access slot opening into a longitudinal channel of the rod which is substantially wider than the slot: a drapery carrier including an upper body having a shank of less width than the width of the slot and adapted to extend thereinto, said body having an outer portion secured to said shank and extending laterally of and in opposite directions beyond the shank to overlie the exterior of the rod on opposite sides of its slot, said body further having an inner portion secured to said shank in spaced relation to said outer portion and extending laterally of and in opposite directions beyond the shank to overlie the interior of the rod on opposite sides of its slot; a flexible web secured at one end to the outer portion of said leg below said outer body portion and inner body portion and extending laterally from one side of said leg and having a pin at its opposite end extending in an axial direction inwardly of said outer portion of said leg; said outer portion of said leg having a socket portion at its opposite side opening outwardly through the outer surface of said outer portion of said leg and adapted to receive the pin of another carrier to disconnectibly secure the carriers together, said socket portion being located below said outer and inner body portions.

4. In a carrier adapted to support drapery and the like from a rod having a longitudinal access slot opening into a longitudinal channel of the rod which is substantially wider than the slot: an upper body including a shank having a width less than the width of the slot and adapted to extend thereinto, an outer portion secured to said shank and extending laterally of and in opposite directions beyond the shank to overlie the exterior of the rod on 0pposite sides of its slot, and an inner circular portion of uniform axial dimensions around its full circumference eccentric of and secured to said shank in spaced relation to said outer portion and extending laterally of and beyond said shank in opposite directions to overlie the interior of the rod on opposite sides of its slot when dis posed in the channel, the distance between the upper end of said shank and the lower end of said inner eccentric portion being slightly greater than the width of the access slot, said inner eccentric portion being made of flexible material, whereby said lower end of said inner eccentric portion is deflected by the traverse rod in being forced through said access slot between said channel and the exterior of said rod.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,966,695 1/1961 Dwyer 16-93 3,241,658 3/ 1966 Anderson 20659 3,262,148 7/1966 Saltz 16-87.4

MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

EDWARD C. ALLEN, Examiner.

I. H. MCGLYNN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A DEVICE ADAPTED TO SUPPORT DRAPERY AND THE LIKE FROM A TRAVERSE ROD HAVING A LONGITUDINAL ACCESS SLOT OPENING INTO A LONGITUDINAL CHANNEL OF THE ROD WHICH IS SUBSTANTIALLY WIDER THAN THE SLOT: A PLURALITY OF CARRIERS, EACH CARRIER INCLUDING AN UPPER BODY HAVING A SHANK OF LESS WIDTH THAN THE WIDTH OF THE SLOT AND ADAPTED TO EXTEND THEREINTO, SAID BODY HAVING AN OUTER PORTION SECURED TO SAID SHANK AND EXTENDING LATERALLY OF AND IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION BEYOND THE SHANK TO OVERLIE THE EXTERIOR OF THE ROD ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF ITS SLOT, SAID BODY FURTHER HAVING AN INNER PORTION SECURED TO SAID SHANK IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID OUTER PORTION AND EXTENDING LATERALLY OF AND IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS BEYOND THE SHANK TO OVERLIED THE INTERIOR OF THE ROD ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF ITS SLOT EACH CARRIER FURTHER INCLUDING A LEG DEPENDING FROM SAID OUTER PORTION OF SAID UPPER BODY; FLEXIBLE WEBS EXTENDING BETWEEN THE OUTER PORTIONS OF ADJACENT CARRIERS LATERALLY OF THE SIDES THEREOF; EACH OF SAID WEBS BEING SECURED AT ONE END TO 